# apologize

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈpɒləd͡ʒaɪz/ · frequency rank #5,473

## Definitions
1. To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
2. To express regret that a certain event has occurred.
3. To make an apologia or defense; to act as apologist.

## Etymology
From apology + -ize, from ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defense”), from ἀπολογέομαι (apologéomai, “to speak in one’s defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), compound of ἀπο- (apo-, “from, off”) and λόγος (lógos, “speech”); compare also ἀπολογίζομαι (apologízomai, “to render an account”).

## Easily confused with
- **apologies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/apologies-vs-apologize)
- **apologise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/apologise-vs-apologize)
- **apologist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/apologist-vs-apologize)

## Common misspellings (12)
`aoplogize`, `aploogize`, `apolgoize`, `apollogize`, `apologgize`, `apologiez`, `apologizze`, `apologzie`, `apoloigze`, `apoolgize`, `appologize`, `paologize`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/apologize